Doomsday Clock moves to 85 seconds to midnight

By Hazel Belkis Belge

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Doomsday Clock was moved to 85 seconds to midnight on Tuesday, marking the closest point to global catastrophe since it was first unveiled in 1947, CBS News reported, as scientists warn that humanity is failing to curb escalating existential threats.

The clock is maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which cited growing nuclear dangers, accelerating climate change and the rapid development of disruptive technologies as the main drivers behind the decision.

"Humanity has not made sufficient progress on the existential risks that endanger us all," said Alexandra Bell, president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin’s science and security board and a physics professor at the University of Chicago, warned that climate impacts are intensifying worldwide. "Droughts, fires, floods and storms continue to intensify and become more erratic, and this will only get worse," Holz said.

The Doomsday Clock was created in the aftermath of World War II following the use of atomic bombs, aiming to warn the public and policymakers about threats to humanity’s survival.

In recent years, the clock has steadily moved closer to midnight, as scientists warn that political leaders have failed to take the necessary steps to reverse the growing risks.